For years, the Wilpon family was consistently linked with MLS, the Met owners repeatedly rumored to be interested in putting a soccer team in Queens. Then Bernie Madoff happened, robbing them of an estimated $700 million, and robbing New York of a second MLS team _ for now.

“I’d say we remain very committed to at some time in the future having a second team in New York, and having a great facility for it that team, hopefully in New York City,” MLS commissioner Don Garber said Thursday.

“We took a step back. We’re no longer in frank discussions with the Wilpon family. But I believe we’ll get back on track at some other time. It’s just not something that’s happening at this time.”

And when it does get back on track, does he anticipate it being with the Ponzi-stricken Wilpon family? After all, anybody that’s seen the Mets’ anemic lineup and unwillingness to take on salary can surmise just how badly the Wilpons’ bank account has been decimated.

“Listen, we can’t think of a better owner for an MLS team than the Wilpon family, and to be associated with the Mets, and to work on a project in Queens. Why would you want to do anything else?…We’ll definitely talk in the future.” Garber has long pushed for a second team in New York; but such is the sorry state of the Red Bulls _ 2-14-4, and on pace for the fewest goals and least victories in MLS history _ that he has been forced to reassess his priorities and concentrate more on fixing the league’s most disappointing franchise.

“We’ve got a lot of stuff on our plate. We want to get this team up back to the level of support we had in the early years, support their stadium effort,” Garber said. “So I wouldn’t say a second team in New York isn’t the same priority it was a couple of years ago.”

Garber touched on a myriad host of topics.

After bringing on Philadelphia next season and Portland the year after that, he discussed Montreal, Vancouver and St. Louis as prospects, particularly praising the latter as a league priority.

Garber convinced no problem with saturating market. And if they stretch the domestic talent too thin, they’ll loosen the international rules

“We’re not south of Washington, D.C. Markets like Atlanta, Carolina, Florida, we have to figure out how we capture another 50 million people in this country,” said Garber, who felt the Southwest wasn’t a priority and recent expansion has helped cover the West Coast.

“But you get east into the Midwest, we’re feeling a little weak there. We need a team in St. Louis, and we’re trying to figure out how to make that work.”